North Dakota airline boardings climb nearly 20 percent

Airline boardings across North Dakota are up 19 percent compared to this time last year, the Fargo-Moorhead Forum reports. The oil rich region of western North Dakota continues to see the most significant aviation growth. Minot's boardings were up 53 percent and Williston set another record in October with more than 2,400 boardings.

Boardings at airports at airports across North Dakota are up 22 percent in the first six months of 2012 compared to the same period last year, Forum Communications reports. Boardings at airports near the oil boom in western North Dakota have skyrocketed -- up 73 percent in Dickinson, 62 percent in Minot and 41 percent in Williston.

North Dakota's oil boom is fueling demand for more air travel. Delta Air Lines is adding two nonstop daily flights between the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport and Williston, N.D., starting in November, the Fargo Forum reports.

Coborn's Inc. is expanding the company's footprint in the oil-rich region of North Dakota with five new stores by 2014, the St. Cloud Times reports. “North Dakota is a prime market for Coborn’s to expand,” Coborn’s President and CEO Chris Coborn said in a statement. Coborn's opened a Jamestown, N.D., store in May. The St. Cloud-based grocery chain also partnered with Williston-headquartered JK Foods to co-own three supermarkets.

The new plant, located near Minot, North Dakota, is expected to be operating by spring of 2013. Forum Communications reports it will be capable of producing up to 75 million cubic feet of natural gas per day.

The goal is to help ease the housing shortage in the oil rich part of western North Dakota. Plans call for 10 buildings that will accommodate 240 campers, according to the Fargo Forum. The first phase of the project will open in July. Officials in Williston are considering a new law to ban RVs within the city.